Application Launcher authenticates to eDirectory to get information about the applications available to the logged-in user or the workstation.
Application Launcher can use the Novell ClientTM to authenticate to eDirectory. Because the Novell Client uses NCPTM (NetWare® Core ProtocolTM) to access eDirectory, it works best for workstations that are running on a local area network inside a firewall.
If you do not have the Novell Client rolled out to workstations in your local area network, or you have users who must authenticate to eDirectory through a firewall, Application Launcher can also use the ZENworks Middle Tier Server. Novell Application Launcher uses the standard HTTP or HTTPS protocol to communicate with the ZENworks Middle Tier Server inside your firewall, which then accesses eDirectory on behalf of the user. For information about setting up a Middle Tier server, see "Installing the ZENworks Middle Tier Server" in the Novell ZENworks 6.5 Desktop Management Installation Guide.
IMPORTANT: When you log in to the eDirectory tree as Admin, you must have rights to the root of the tree.
To enable users to run applications while disconnected from eDirectory, Application Launcher creates a cache directory, referred to as the NAL cache, on the local workstation.
The NAL cache contains the information required to display and launch applications. When the user is not authenticated to eDirectory, Application Launcher uses the information in the NAL cache. This means that after a user installs an application to his or her workstation, the application is available to the user regardless of whether or not he or she is authenticated to eDirectory.
You can force cache an application to the user's workstation to ensure that the application is available to the user when disconnected from eDirectory, even if it has not yet been installed. In this situation, the cache contains all the information and files required to install the application.
For more information about the cache, see Novell Application Launcher: Managing the Cache.